Social Affairs Intern

Support Social protection policies research and activities without financial remuneration.

This opening expired 5 months ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

ECLAC - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Open positions at ECLAC / Open positions at UN
Logo of ECLAC

Application deadline 5 months ago: Thursday 22 Jan 2026 at 04:59 UTC

Open application form

Overview

Support Social protection policies research and activities without financial remuneration.

You have:

  • Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) or relevant field of study.
  • Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is required.
  • Previous knowledge of social protection policies is required.
  • Candidates must cover the cost of travel including visa, accommodation, health insurance and other living expenses.

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Work Location

Santiago

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the five regional Commissions of the United Nations. It was founded in 1948 with the purpose of contributing to the region's economic and social development. Its mission includes the design, monitoring and evaluation of public policies and the provision of advisory services, expertise, and training to Governments, as well as support for regional and international cooperation and coordination activities. Please visit our website at www.eclac.org for further information. The internship in the Social Development Division of ECLAC will last 2 to 6 (2 min/6 max) months, depending on the needs of the Office. Candidates may be selected throughout the posting period, on an "as-needed" basis. Under the supervision or overall guidance of Social Affairs Research Assistant. The intern will support the team in Social protection policies. Tasks will include: - Scheduling events and activities - Research of qualitative, quantitative, institutional and official data on indicators and social protection policies, programmes and measures; drafting inputs related to social policy, public/government institutions, and social protection documents; - Gather and summarize research information on specific topics, particularly in social protection and social development; - Contribute and support activities such as the organization of seminars and expert meetings, producing briefs and presentations, under request; - Work collaboratively with other members of the team; process statistical information; - Contribute to update the content of databases and websites of the Social Development Division.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent). Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is required for this internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Information

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master's or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor's, Master's or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Previous knowledge of social protection policies is required for this internship. Candidates for the UN Internship Programme are required to cover the cost of travel including visa, accommodation, health insurance and other living expenses for the duration of the internship. Will you be able to cover all the above-mentioned expenses? Have you completed a UN Internship before? If yes, please include the UN entity as well as concrete dates?

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Potential interview questions

What interests you about social protection policies and how do you see yourself contributing to them? The interviewer wants to assess your motivation and understanding of social protection policies. Discuss your passion for social issues and how your background aligns with the role.
Can you provide an example of how you have conducted research in a previous academic setting? The interviewer seeks to understand your research skills and methodologies. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects simultaneously? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Have you ever worked as part of a team? What role did you play? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies would you use to communicate research findings to a non-expert audience? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Why did you choose to apply for an internship with ECLAC specifically? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing social development in Latin America? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you handle feedback and criticism of your work? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 6 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: careers.un.org